ArsTechnica: When asked to fix something, we don’t even think of removing parts

H. Clay Aalders
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As a society, we seem to have mixed feelings about whether it’s better to add or subtract things, advising both that “less is more” and “bigger is better.” But these contradictory views play out across multibillion-dollar industries, with people salivating over the latest features of their hardware and software before bemoaning that the added complexities make the product difficult to use.

A team of researchers from the University of Virginia decided to look at the behavior underlying this tension, finding in a new paper that most people defaulted to assuming that the best way of handling a problem is to add new features. While it was easy to overcome this tendency with some simple nudges, the researchers suggest that this thought process may underlie some of the growing complexity of the modern world.

I had to look up the source, but I have long loved the saying:

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”

The article caught my attention because of the Swiss Army Knife in the cover photo. I like the more minimalist SAKs to be honest anyway.

Read the whole thing:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/the-takeaway-is-that-we-dont-tend-to-take-things-away/

 

 

 

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H. Clay Aalders

H. Clay Aalders is a lifelong edged tool user. He spent the past 20 years as a woodworker and fishing guide in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Tennessee. While guiding in Idaho, Clay worked part-time writing for a local newspaper, and upon moving to Tennessee began writing for the blog The Truth About Knives - spending his last 5 years there as Managing Editor. His background is in fixed-blade hunting and bushcraft knives, but has jumped into the world of vintage slipjoint collecting with both feet since coming to work at Knife Magazine. Clay’s primary role is as Digital Editor, curating and creating new content for our website and blog, as well as maintaining the Knife Magazine social media accounts (FB/IG: @theknifemag, Twitter: @knifemagazine). He is also a contributor and Associate Editor of the print magazine.

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2 Responses

  1. Mostly, I am of the “single blade” mindset on the knives I carry and use. I do carry my Leatherman “Skeletool” including the extra bit set in a sheath, on my belt, on the port side. Mostly, I use the needle nose pliers and sometimes the “bits”. My “glow-in-the-dark” Victorinox “Classic” is on my key ring. During this dry weather, those scissors are useful in clipping a bit of dry skin on a finger . . . so it doesn’t snag and become a crevasse. “Splits” on the fingertips are painful! I use either “Burt’s Bees” Cuticle Cream, “Udder Balm”;”O’Keefes”; and/or “Eucerin” to maintain my fingers and hands. Hell, I use at least one of these everyday on my elbows, knees, heels, earlobes, shins, and ankle knobs. My personal “lube job”.

    “KISS” is my go-to acronym on using tools: “Always Have A Toolbox (AHAT)” when a bit of torque is required: Screwdrivers, “Channel-locks”, hex and Torx key sets, . . . and, when pounding: a 1-2 lb. ball-peen is useful; a “Vaughn” pry bar (flat and wide one) always comes in handy; . . . most of these tools make excellent defensive weapons, too.

    Yep, “KISS” . . . “Keep It Simple S_ _ _ _ _ (intentionally left blank)

    Hocky

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  2. one of the most agreeable policies a few years ago was reduction of regulatory excesses. losing chevron deference seems to be looming.

    Reply

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